1993 Toyota Camry my transmission will not go into gear

Tiny
DAVIDDLW
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
Help pleeze,
I recently changed my rear main oil seal in my 1993 toyota camry le. I labeled all wires and connectors and I pulled the motor out and disconnected the trans. I put the new rear main oil seal in. I connected trans back on motor with torque converter hooked up to the fly wheel and put engine back in car. After I connected all the wires and hoses I put the axles back in and mounted tires. With car still on jack stands I started engine and tried to put car in gear, but every gear I put car in the trans would not turn the wheels. I could not feel car going into gear nor did I see the wheels move. I manully turned the wheels to see if the wheels turn in opposite directions and they did. I checked the fluid in trans and it was way to high on the dip stick like someone had over filled it about 3 quarts. But there was no fluid added to the trans at all during any operations I performed so I do not know how fluid was so high on stick. It was all fluid there was no water in it. So I let car run about 15 minutes to see if fluid would go down to normal operating level but it did not it stayed at the same level on stick.
to me it seemed like there was no movement of the fluid through the trans. I let out some of the fluid to level were it reads normal when hot on stick and I let car sit awhile and I checked fluid again it was in the same level to where I put it, no movement of fluids is taking place in trans. This trans was working great before changed out oil seal. I also checked the axles to see if they were installed all the way in trans and they seem to be since I could turned the wheels and they turned in opposite directions.
did I hook something up wrong, or maybe a solinoid on trans is not operating, or what is wrong? Any help would be appreciated.
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 11:24 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi daviddlw,

Thank you for the donation.

From the symptom description, it seems the trans fluid are not circulating.

Possibly the torque converter was dislodged and not seated correctly when installing. I would suggest checking if the torque converter is properly seated.

Remove the lower portion of the torque converter dust plate and remove the torque converter holding bolts. Push against the torque converter to get it away from the drive plate. There should be some clearance and the turque converter should move freely when pushed.

I hope you have not forced the trans onto its mounting point when installing. If the torque converter had been out of alignment, forcing the trans onto its mounting point and tightening the bolts can damage the trans oil pump.
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 12:08 PM
Tiny
DAVIDDLW
  • MEMBER
  • 39 POSTS
Hi,
the torque converter would not move back when pushed. If what you said is true is there anyway to fix the problem? Or can trans be fixed by mewith another pump from a old trans? Or is there a easier way to remedy this. Thanks
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 2:38 PM
Tiny
DAVIDDLW
  • MEMBER
  • 39 POSTS
I took out the torque converter screws to flw wheel and it will not move back any. Does this mean the trans is messed up, or can it be saved somehow? If it is the oil pump can it be replaces with another oil pump from a old used broke trans? And where exactly would I find the pump on the trans. Thanks
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 4:14 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Hi
KHLow off line will help you. If torqure conbvertor will turn see if you can get it to lock into pump.
Was there a rather not so good noise when started? If so then pump is damaged. If not and can't rotate convertor loosen up trans to engine bolts.
Good luck
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Sorry for the delay in replying.

Here is an exploded view of the oil pump. It is just behind the torque converter.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_TransOilPump93Camry_1.jpg



As DocFixit had mentioned. Loosen the trans to engine holding bolts and get the trans to back away from the engine. Remove the transmission rear mount first and use a jak to support the trans so that it is not slanting and pressing against the drive plate. Once you have sufficient clearance. try to turn the torqueconverter, lifting it slightly to get it aligned to slot into the oil pump,

If there are any oil leakages from behind the torque converter, the oil pump has been damaged. You would have to remove the transmission to check the amount of damage.

You can use an oil pump from a donor trans that is similar.
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Thursday, June 25th, 2009 AT 8:53 AM
Tiny
DAVIDDLW
  • MEMBER
  • 39 POSTS
Thanks, I will get into the work next week when I come off vacation. I hope the trans oil pump is still good I will hate to remove the trans and motor again. But you guys are great and I appreciate your help in all of this. I will let you know what I find out on the situation once I get started next week sometime. Thanks. David
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Thursday, June 25th, 2009 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
You are welcomed and if you requires further info, just post reply and we would get back to you.

If you are able to get the torque converter moving, after the trans to engine bolts are secured, check that it can turn freely. There should be some slight travel between the torque converter and drive plate before securing the converter bolts.
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Friday, June 26th, 2009 AT 8:00 AM

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